Material gathering and loading machine



Dec. 17, 1935. R. H. KRAFT 2,024,458

MATE IAL GATHERING AND LOADING MACHINE Original Filed July 31, 1933 4 Sh tsaheet 1 Dec. 17, 1935.

R. H. KRAFT MATERIAL GATHERING AND LOADING MACHINE Original Filed July 31, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 DMZ. 17, 1935. R, KRAFT MATERIAL GATHERING AND LOADING MACHINE Original Filed July :51, I955 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 9 R. H. KRAFT MATERIAL GATHERING AND LOADING MACHINE Original Filed July 51, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 JkI/W Patented Dec. 17, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OF FICE .GATH G N O NG MACHINE Robert H. KrafL-Chicago, 111., assignor to Goodman Manufacturing Company, Chicago, 111., a

corporation of Illinois "16 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in material gathering and loading machines particularly adapted for loading coal at the working face of a mine. The principal objects ofthe in-. vention are to provide a simple and eff cient mechanism of the. character described including a caterpillar-mounted truck, a gathering and loading element carried in advance of saidtru ck of a novelarrangement so as to effectivelygload coal in a simple and. efficient mannerand capable of being elevated and lowered with respect to.the ground, and a discharge conveyer rearwardly of the gathering and loading element capable of being swiveled to various angles ;,with respect to the truck, togethercwith a novel arrangement of the drive mechanism and. gearing for driving all of the parts of the device from one drivemember in such a manner that the motors may be located for ready accessibility QOand yet not add to the height of the machine.

This invention is a division of an application, Serial No.. 682,982, filed July .31, i933, and entitledlmprovements in material gathering and loading machines.

Other objects of my invention will appear-from time to time as the followingspecification proceeds.

My. invention may best be understood with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

machineillustrating one embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view of the central portion of the device shown in Figure 1 with-the rearconveyer removed and other parts brokenaway and shown in horizontal section to more clearly show certain details of my invention;

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevationof the forward portion of the embodiment of my invention shown in Figure l with parts broken away and shown in vertical section;

Figure 4 is an enlarged side elevation of the rearward portion of the embodiment of my in- -,ventio1mshown in Figure l, with parts broken away and shown in verticalsection;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view looking towards the rear end ofthe machine showing certain details of the drive ;to the gathering and loading element;

Figure 6-is an enlarged fragmentary-transversesectional view-looking towards the rearward end of the machine showing certaindetails of.

the drive for the gathering elements; and 55 Figure 7 isan-enlarged fragmentary vertical Figure 1 is a top plan View of a loading transverse sectional View looking towards the forward end of the machine showing certain details of the drive and support for thegrears conveyer.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout 5 the various figures. 7

Referring now in particular to the drawingszillustrating one embodiment of my -invention, a truck or main frame ii! is provldedwhichxis carried on laterally spaced continuous tread 10 devices ll, H. A gathering and loading element, generally indicated by reference character l2, extends from a point disposed abovethe main frame it forwardly and downwardlyytoward the ground and is adjustable with-respect to I the 1 round about .a horizontal axis disposed .above and extending transversely of said main frame. A discharge conveyer i3 is carried on the main frame 6 for pivotal movement with respect thereto about a vertical axis and for verticaladjustment with respect thereto aboutahorizontal axis. Said discharge conveyer extends from a point disposed beneath the discharge end ofsaid gathering and loading element beyond said main frame for discharging material into suitable. receptacles, such as cars.

A suitable means is provided for affording a source of power for driving the gathering and loading element 62; for vertically-adjusting said gathering and loading element with respectto the rnine bottom; for driving the laterally spaced continuous tread devices 5 E and fordriving :the discharge conveyor l3 and adjustingsaid discharge conveyer with respect to the main frame ifliabout both vertical and horizontalaxesiwhich is herein shown as comprising a pair of-.motors l i, M. The motors it, it may be of any type but are herein shown as being electric motors and each motor issecured to oneside of the mainframe It in a suitable manner and extends laterally therefrom and is disposed .between .the top and bottom runs of each laterally spaced continuous tread device H. The axes .ofrotation of .the motors Ill, Hi extend transversely of the main frame iii, and are herein .shownas being coaxial. Each motor M is provided with a motor pinion 55, which meshes with and drives a spurgear' It. The spur gears l6, iii are. keyed on opposite ends of a transversely extending shaft. ll, which shaft formsnacommond-rive member for effecting operation of the device of myiinvention through a novel arrangement of drive gearing.

With the arrangement herein shown, the motors Hi, It maybe located so as .to be readilybii shafts 35, 35.

accessible for inspection or repair and are connected together through the common drive member l1 to operate as one. Thus two motors are provided which results in a more even distribution of the motor weight; keeps down the height of the machine to a minimum; permits the motors to be located in such a manner that the machine will have a low center of gravity with ample weight over the continuous tread devices H, H to permit efficient loading and propulsion of the machine; permits a simplified arrangement of gearing for driving the parts; and provides accessibility to the motors without tearing down other parts of the machine.

The drive from the motors l4, l4 to the laterally spaced continuous tread devices II, II is as follows:

A bevel gear 58 is journaled on its hub in the main frame Iii in a suitable manner and is keyed on the transversely extending shaft 11. The bevel gear i 8 meshes with and drives a bevel gear M3 on the forward end of a shaft extending longitudinally of the main frame In, and herein shown as being substantially in alignment with the longitudinal center line thereof. A bevel gear 2| is keyed on the rearward end of the shaft 20 and meshes with and drives bevel gears 22, 22 journaled in suitable bearing supports in the main frame it and keyed on the inner ends of shafts 23, 23 extending transversely of said main frame.

A friction clutch, generally indicated by reference character 24 and herein shown as being a friction disk clutch of an ordinary construction, is arranged coaxially with each shaft 23 (see Figs. 2 and 7). The friction clutch 24 on the right hand side of the machine is provided for selectively connecting the shaft 23 with a spur gear 25 keyed to the inner periphery of the hub of said friction clutch, which hub of said friction clutch is journaled in the main frame H1 in a suitable manner. The friction clutch 24 on the left hand shaft 23 is provided for selectively connecting said shaft with a spur pinion 21 keyed to the inner periphery of the hub of said friction clutch, which hub is journaled in the main frame it! in a suitable manner. The spur gear 25 meshes with and drives a spur gear 28 keyed on a transversely extending shaft 29. The spur pinion 21 meshes with and drives a spur gear 39 keyed on the transversely extending shaft 29 adjacent an end opposite the spur gear 28. A spur pinion 3| is keyed on the transversely extending shaft 29 and meshes with and drives a spur ring gear, 32 which forms a driving member for a differential, generally indicated by reference character 33. The spur ring gear 32 is mounted on a casing 34 journaled on its hubs in the main frame In in a suitable manner coaxial with drive Bevel pinions 38, 36 are carried Within the casing 34 and mesh with and drive bevel gears El, 31 splined on the inner ends of the shafts 35.

The shafts are journaled in the main frame 19 in a suitable manner and are provided with brake drums 38, 38 adjacent their opposite ends adapted to be engaged by suitable friction bands 39 in a usual mannr for holding either of said shafts from rotation when desired. A spur pinion 4B is keyed to each shaft 35 inwardly of the brake drum 38. Each spur pinion 4-3 meshes with and drives a spur gear 4| journaled on a a shaft 43 for free rotation with respect thereto.

The shaft 43 is secured to the main frame If) and extends transversely thereof and forms a bearing support for the spur gears 4|, 4| and for sprockets 44, 44 secured to said spur gears and driven therefrom. The sprockets 44, 44 mesh with the laterally spaced continuous tread devices ll, l I for driving said tread devices and propelling the apparatus about the mine.

The clutches 24, 24 are interlocked so that one clutch is in a disengaged position while the other clutch is in an engaged position for driving the device from the motors i4, 14 in one direction at a relatively high speed, which direction is herein shown as being a reverse direction and in an opposite direction at a slower speed without reversal of said motors. It may be seen that a differential and suitable braking mechanism are provided for controlling the operation of either continuous tread device II at will and permitting the machine to be readily manipulated about the mine in a usual manner.

With reference now in particular to the de- 20 tails of the gathering and loading element l2, brackets 45, 45 extend upwardly from opposite sides of the main frame IE] adjacent the forward end thereof and are secured thereto. An inclined conveyor frame 46 is carried between the brackets 45, 45 on a transverse shaft 41 for pivotal movement with respect to the main frame H3. A conveyer frame 48 is secured between the brackets 45, 45 and extends rearwardly from the inclined conveyer frame 46.

The conveyer frames 46 and 48 together form a guide frame for a suitable conveying means for elevating material and discharging said material into the discharge conveyer I3, which conveying means may be of any type Well known to 9 those skilled in the art but is herein preferably shown as being a flight conveyer 49. The flight conveyer 49 comprises a pair of endless chains 59, 54 having flights 52, 52 carried therebetween. The endless chains 55, extend from sprockets 53, 53 disposed adjacent the forward end of the inclined conveyor frame 45 and are keyed on a transversely extending shaft 54 journaled in said conveyer frame, upwardly along the top surface of a plate 55 secured to said inclined conveyer frame and a plate 56 secured to the conveyer frame 48 and around suitable drive sprockets keyed to a shaft 51 adjustably journaled in the conveyer frame 48 for taking up slack on said endless chains in the usual manner, and along the underside of said plates and conveyer frames to and around the sprockets 53, 53. a

A shoe 59 extends downwardly from the forward portion of the conveyer frame 46 and is adapted to engage and slide along the ground during the loading operation (see Fig. 3).

An inclined apron 68 is carried by the forward portion of the conveyer frame 46 and extends rearwardly therealong over the flight conveyer 49 to a point adjacent the point where said conveyer starts to move upwardly along said conveyer frame and has sides extending rearwardly along and laterally beyond the sides of said conveyer frame. The inclined apron forms a supporting means for a pair of elongated chain guides 6|, 6|. The elongated chain guides 61, 6| are secured to the inclined apron 60 in a suitable manner adjacent opposite sides of the flight conveyer 49 and extend forwardly along said apron from a position disposed rearwardly of the point where said apron overlaps said flight conveyer and for- .wardly beyond the forward extremities of said sainez as thataof the conveyer I49 and. thelchain guides :6 I, 56 I are of .a acurvilinear form ,beyond saidlapron so that .their forward ends may nextendsdn'a plane substantiaillyparallel with the mine bottom when the shoe. 59. is in engagement plicationof which this is a division so will not herein be described in detail.

'The endlesszchains 65, 65 are driven from sprockets 8 I. ,8I secured to the upper end of shafts 82,82. extending substantially perpendicular totheinclined apron 60 at a slower rate of speed than the speed of the flight conveyer 49117613611111? said flight conveyer tocarrymaterialqaway from the gathering arms 66, 65. The shafts 82;82 are journaled within suitable housings :83, 831secured to the underside of the inclinedapron Gain a suitable manner, and have worm gears 84, 84 keyed thereto, which worm gears are meshed with and driven from worms-85,,85on opposite ends of the transversely extending shaft 54. The transversely extending shaft 54 in turn is driven from the sprockets: 53,53 and endless chains 50, 50 m an Obviousmanner.

The drive from the motors I4, I4 to the flight conveyer 49 --is as follows:

.Theibevel gear I9 on the forward end of the longitudinal shaft 20 meshes with and drives a bevelfgear 81 on the lower end of a vertical shaft8'B. The vertical shaft 88 is journaled in thelmainframe I0 on suitable bearing support members in a suitable manner, and has a bevel gear'BQ secured to its upper end for driving a bevel gear. 90 on .a transversely extending shaft SI. The transversely extending shaft 9| is journaledi adjacent one of its ends in one of the brackets 45 in a suitable manner and extends through a hub 93 of a friction clutch 94. The hub193 is, journaled in the other bracket'45 in a suitable manner and has a spur pinion 95 keyed thereto. The friction clutch 94 may be of any type well known to those skilled in the art, but is herein preferably shown as being a friction diskiclutch ..so .arranged that the spur pinion 95 maybe selectively driven from the transversely extending shaft 9| under the control of friction- V .The spur pinion 95 meshes with and drives a spur ,gearlflfi keyed to a shaft 91 journaled in the brackets'45, 45 in a suitable manner. A sprocket 90.is keyedto the end of the shaft 91 adjacent the friction clutch -94 while a sprocket 99 is keyedtothe opposite end of said shaft. The sprocket-"98 isconnected with the shaft 51 by means of ,a-chain and sprocket drive, generally indicatedby reference character I00, while the opposite endofsaid shaft is connected with the sprocket 99 by a similar chain and sprocket'drive (not shown). Thus the flight-conveyer-49 and gathering, chains 55,5 may :be 'selectivelydriven from. .the.-, motors I4, I4 at .a frictionally controlled: speed :such a manner that said; conveyer and gathering chains may be automaticallydisconnected from said motors-uponcoverload thereof.

-A suitable means isprovidedfor pivoting the 5 inclined conveyer frame 45 about the axisnof the transversely extending shaft 41, which means as herein shown comprise :threaded shafts I0 I, I0! pivotally connectedrtowbrackets I02, I02-depending from vthe underside of said conveyer; 10 frame adjacent .opposite sides thereof. The threaded shafts IEI-I, IOI are threaded within hubsof-suitable worm gears I03, -I03,-which worm gears are supported in housingsIM, I04 pivotally secured'to the main frame Ill on the outereends of-shafts I05, =-I 05.

Ashaft, I06 is journaled in the: housings I04, I04adjacent its opposite ends and has worms I01, I01 hereinshown as being formed integral therewith which mesh with and drive the worm gears I03, I-03. A-sprocket I09 is keyed tohthe shaft I06 adjacentthe inner side of p the right hand housing I04 and is driven from a -transversely extendingshaft III! by means'ofsa'1-chain and sprocket drive, generally indicated by reference character I. The transversely extending shaft H0 is coaxial'with beve1--gears II2,II2 and the axis of pivotal movement of the housings I04, I04.

i I2, I I2, are meshed with-and driven from-a bevel o;

gearv I I5, which bevel gear is in turn journaled on its hub in the main frame III in :a suitable manner. A bevel gear H1 is secured within the hub of the bevel gear I I6 and is meshed-with and driven byabevel pinion H8 journaled "on 5 its hub within. the main frame I0 and keyed to the transversely extending shaft I'I. Thusthe forward end of the inclined conveyer frame 46 and the gathering mechanism may be elevated or lowered by driving mechanism driven from 50 the common shaft I'I'and motorsv I4, I4 without reversal of-said motors.

--Referring now in particular to the details of the discharge conveyer l3 and several other novel features of'my invention, said discharge conveyer includes a hopper II9 disposed beneath thedischargeend of the flight conveyer- 49 and pivotally mounted on the main frame "I0 'for pivotal movement with respect thereto about a vertical axis and auconveyer frame I20 pivotally secured to said hopper on a shaft I2I for pivotal .movement with respect thereto about theaxis of said shaft.

The hopper, I I9 issecured to-a turning member I23, which turning member is journaled on. a boss I24 extending upwardly from a plate I25 secured to the main frame I0 adjacent opposite sides thereof and-rests on and has bearing engagement with said plate. A shoulder I26 extends outwardly from the lower portion of the turning member. I23: and abuts a circular guide formed by the plate I25 and an annular ring I21 secured to said plate overlaps and forms a gib for engagingthe top side of said shoulder.

-:An internal ring ,;gear--I 2 9 :is-carried Within the inner periphery of the turning member I 23 and abuts the upper surface of the plate I25.

The internal ring gear I29 is adapted to be operatively connected with the turning member I23 for turning said turning member upon rotation of said gear by means of a wedge I30. The wedge I30 is carried in a suitable guide formed in the turning member I23 and is adapted to engage the outer periphery of the internal ring gear I29. A spindle I3I is formed integral with and extends upwardly from the wedge I30. A compression spring I33 encircles the spindle I3I and abuts an upper surface of the turning member I 23 adjacent one of its ends and is held in compression by means of a suitable washer and nut I36 threaded on the upper end of said spindle and abutting the opposite end of said spring.

The side of the wedge I30 opposite the outer periphery of the internal ring gear I29 is beveled and engages a beveled edge of the guide formed in the turning member I23 so that the spring I33 will hold the wedge I30 in engagement with the outer periphery of said internal ring gear for turning said turning member upon rotation of said gear. When loads on the internal ring gear I29 are excessive, friction of said gear against the wedge I30 will tend to move said wedge downwardly against the compression spring I33 and permit said gear to rotate freely with respect to the turning member 523 (see Fig. 4).

A spur pinion I31 is keyed on the upper end of a vertical shaft I33 and meshes with and drives the internal ring gear I29. A worm gear I39 is keyed to the vertical shaft I38 on the opposite side of the plate i25 from the spur pinion I31 and is meshed with a worm I48 on a longitudinally extending shaft I49. A sprocket I4I, having clutch jaws I42 formed integral therewith, is freely mounted on the longitudinally extending shaft I; A'spur gear I43, having clutch jaws I44 formed integral therewith, is spaced forwardly of the sprocket MI and is freely mounted on the longitudinally extending shaft I49. A clutch member I is feathered on the longitudinally extending shaft I40 between the sprocket MI and spur gear I43 and is adapted to mesh with the clutch jaws I42 or I44 for selectively driving said shaft from either said sprocket or spur gear.

The sprocket MI is driven from the longitudinally extending shaft 20 by means of a sprocket I46 keyed thereto and a chain I41 meshing with said sprockets. The spur gear I43 is driven from the longitudinally extending shaft 20 by a spur gear I49 keyed to the shaft 20 and meshing with said spur gear. It is thus obvious that the longitudinally extending shaft 349 will be driven in one direction when driven from the sprocket I 4| and in an opposite direction when driven from the spur gear I43.

The conveyer frame I20 is pivotally moved with respect to the hopper H9 for vertically adjusting the rearward end of said conveyer frame to accommodate the discharge conveyer I3 to varying mining conditions or heights of cars by means of a pair of screw devices I5I, I5! pivotally secured to brackets I50, I50 depending from opposite sides of said conveyer frame; The screw devices I5I, I5I are threaded within the hubs of worm gears I52, I52, which worm gears are in turn journaled in housings I53, I53 pivoted to arms I54, I54 extending outwardly from the hopper H9. Worms I55, I55 disposed adjacent opposite ends of a transversely extending shaft I55 mesh with and drive the worm gears I52, I52.

The transversely extending shaft I56 is journaled adjacent its ends in the housings I53, I53 and is driven from the motors I 4, I4 by means of a chain and sprocket drive, generally indicated by reference character I51, driven from a sprocket I50 keyed on a transversely extending shaft I59.

The transversely extending shaft I59 is journaled in suitable bearing brackets extending up-- wardly from the turning member I23 and may be driven from the motors I4, I4 in opposite directions without reversal of said motors by means of a bevel gear I69 keyed to the lower end of a vertical shaft ISL. The bevel gear I 60 meshes with and is driven from the bevel gear 2| on the rearward end of the longitudinal shaft 20. A bevel gear IE3 is keyed on the upper end of the shaft IN and meshes with and drives bevel gears I64 and IE5 on a transversely extending shaft I55. The bevel gears I64 and I65 face each other, are similar in size, and the bevel gear I64 is keyed on the transversely extending shaft I66 while the bevel gear I65 is mounted on said transversely extending shaft for free rotation with respect thereto. A spur gear I61 is shown as being formed integral with the hub of the bevel gear I 65 and meshes with and drives a spur gear I98 carried on the transversely extending shaft I 59 for free rotation with respect thereto. 'A spur gear I10 is keyed on an inner end of the shaft I 65 and meshes with and drives a spur gear I1I freely mounted on the shaft I59. Either of the spur gears I68 or I1I may be operatively connected with the shaft I59 by means of suitable jaw clutches including a clutch member I12 having jaws formed integral therewith adapted to engage suitable jaws formed integral with said spur gears and operated in a usual manner. Thus the transversely extending shaft I59 may be driven in opposite directions without reversal of the motors I4, I4 for elevat ing or lowering the rearward end of the'discharge conveyer I3.

The discharge conveyer I3 may be of any type well known to those skilled in the art, but is herein preferably shown as being a flight conveyer 113 similar to the flight conveyer 49. The flight conveyer I13 includes endless chains I14, I14 carrying flights I15, I15 therebetween and trained around suitable sprockets (not shown) keyed on a shaft I 11. The shaft I11 is journaled in the hopper :59 adjacent the forward end thereof. From the shaft I 11, the endless chains I14, I14 extend rearwardly along suitable plates and around suitable sprockets on a shaft H9 disposed adjacent the rearward end of the conveyer frame I20, thus forming a continuous conveying means from the hopper I I9 to the rearward end of the discharge conveyer I3.

The flight conveyer I13 is driven from the transversely extending shaft I11 by means of a pair of sprockets I19 keyed on the outer end of the shaft I69, and a pair of chain and sprocket drives, generaly indicated by reference character E80, connected between the shafts I66 and I11 and freely rotatable with respect to the shaft I11. The chain and sprocket drive I may be operatively connected with the shaft I11 for driving said shaft by means of a friction clutch, generally indicated by reference character I83, in a usual manner.

It may thus be seen that a simplified drive has been provided wherein two motors, accessibly located between the top and bottom runs of the clement -l2,-f or elevating or lowering said gathgering and loading element with respect to the mine bottom, for driving the continuous tread devices; for pivotally moving the discharge con- ;veyer l3-about both vertical andhorizontal axes with respect to the main frame 56, and for driving saiddischarge conveyer; that said drive has been arranged with a view towards utmost compactness and simplicity in such a manner that the various operations may be reversed without reversal of the motor; that said drive includesfrictionally controlled means for driving the continuous tread devices andthe gathering and loading element, and for driving the discharge conveyer l3 and turning said discharge conveyer abouta vertical axis; and that the entire #machine is arranged with a view toward a minimum overall height and adaptability for efficiently loading in confined spaces.

While I have herein shown and described one form in which my invention may be embodied, it will be understood that the construction and arrangement of the various parts may be changed or altered without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Furthermore, I do not wish to be construed as limiting myself to the precise construction illustrated, excepting as it may be limited in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a loading machine of the class described, a main frame supported on traction devices, a gathering and loading element therefor, and means for driving said traction devices and independently driving said gathering and loading element comprising a pair of motors disposed adjacent opposite sides of said main frame, a common drive member connecting said motors together, and independent drive connections from said common drive member to said traction devices and gathering and loading element.

2. A loading machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein the drive connections include a shaft perpendicular to said common drive member and extending longitudinally of the machine, a drive connection from the forward end of said shaft to said gathering and loading element and a drive connection from the rearward end of said shaft to saidtraction devices.

3. A loading machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein the axes of rotation of the motors are coaxial.

4. In a loading machine of the class described, a main frame supported on laterally spaced continuous tread devices, a gathering and loading element therefor, a discharge conveyer on said main frame, and means for driving said laterally spaced continuous tread devices and independently driving said forward and rearward conveyers comprising a' motor disposed between the upper and lower runs of each of said continuous tread devices, means for connecting said motors together to operate as a unit, and independent drive connections from said connecting means for driving said continuous tread devices, gathering and loading element and discharge conveyer.

5. In a loading machine of the class ,described, a main frame supported on laterally spaced continuous tread devices, a gathering and loading element therefor, a discharge conveyer on said main frame, and means for driving said laterally spaced continuous tread devices and independently driving said forward and rearward conveyers comprising a motor disposed between the upper and lower runs of each of said continuoustread devices, a shaft extending longitudinally of said main frame and driven by said motors, drive connections from the forward end of said shaft for driving said gathering and loading element, and drive connections from th rearward end of said shaft for driving said continuous tread devices and discharge conveyer.

6. A loading machine in accordance with claim 4, wherein the motors are coaxial.

7. A leading machine in accordance withclaim 4, wherein the motors are coaxial and wherein the means for connecting the motors together includes a common shaft extending transversely of said main frame.

8. A leading machine in accordance with claim 5, wherein the motors are coaxial.

9. A loading machine in accordance with claim 5, wherein the motors are coaxial and wherein the longitudinal shaft is driven by a shaft common to and. driven by each of said motors.

10. In a loading machine of the class described, a main frame supported on laterally spaced continuous tread devices, a gathering and loading element therefor including an inclined conveyer extending forwardly therefrom having gathering mechanism on each side thereof and extending forwardly therefrom, a discharge conveyor carried by said main frame for pivotal movement with respect thereto about a vertical axis and extending from a point disposed beneath the discharge end of said inclined conveyer beyond said main frame, and means for driving said laterally spaced continuous tread devices and independently driving said forward and rearward conveyors comprising a pair of motors disposed adjacent opposite sides of said main frame between the upper and lower runs of said continuous tread devices and having their axes of rotation extending transversely of said main frame, a common drive member connecting said motors together, and independent drive connections from said common drive member to said continuous tread devices, gathering and loading element and discharge conveyer.

11. A loading machine in accordance with claim wherein the drive connections include a shaft perpendicular to said common drive member and extending longitudinally of the machine, drive connections from the forward end of said shaft for driving said gathering and. loading element and drive connections from the rearward end of said shaft for driving said continuous tread devices and discharge conveyer.

12. A loading machine in accordance with claim 10 wherein the axes of rotation of the motors are coaxial.

13.. In a loading machine, a main frame, laterally spaced continuous tread devices supporting said main frame, a gathering and loading element therefor including a conveyer extending from a point disposed forwardly of the forward end of said main frame upwardly and over said main frame having gathering mechanism on each side thereof and extending forwardly therefrom and carried by said main frame for pivotal movement with respect thereto about an axis extending transversely thereof, a discharge conveyer including a hopper mounted on said main frame beneath the discharge end of said first-mentioned conveyer for pivotal movement with respect thereto about a vertical axis and a conveyer frame pivotally mounted on said hopper for pivotal movement with respect thereto about a horizontal axis, and means for driving said laterally spaced continuous tread devices, independently elevating and driving said gathering and loading element and independently driving and pivoting said discharge conveyer about horizontal or transverse axes comprising a shaft extending transversely of said main frame, a drive shaft extending longitudinally of said main frame, drive connections from said transverse shaft for elevating or lowering said gathering and loading element, drive connections from the forward end of said longitudinal drive shaft for driving said gathering and loading element, and drive connections from the rearward end of said common drive shaft for driving said continuous tread devices, pivoting said discharge conveyer about horizontal and vertical axes and driving said discharge conveyer.

14. A loading machine in accordance with claim 13 wherein the transverse shaft is driven by motors disposed adjacent opposite ends thereof.

15. A loading machine in accordance with claim 13 wherein the transverse shaft is driven from motors disposed adjacent opposite ends thereof, which motors are disposed between the upper and lower runs of said continuous tread devices.

16. A loading machine in accordance with claim 13 wherein the transverse shaft is driven from coaxially arranged motors disposed adjacent opposite ends thereof, which motors are disposed between the top and bottom runs of said continuous tread devices.

ROBERT H. KRAFT. 

